Grammy Award Winner of the Faith Hill/Tim McGraw song “Like We Never Loved At All” and former leader of the Philadelphia phenomenon Wanderlust, Scot Sax, launches his new publishing company Songlife Artists Inc. with a special artist showcase on Saturday, July 26th, 2008 at Milkboy Coffee, 2 East Lancaster Ave., PA. Call 610-645-5269 or visit www.milkboycoffee.com for information and tickets.

Scot Sax’s idea for a publishing company came to him after he began to give back to the musical community that has been giving so much to him over the years. “I placed an ad online earlier this year for songwriters that needed help, whether it was with their writing or information on how to get people to hear their songs in the music business.” Scot was pleased with the result. “It turned out to be one of the most satisfying things I’ve done.  Knowing I could help in any way felt amazing.”

But something unexpected occurred when Scot was working with the unknown writers. “I met lots of songwriters and there were a few times where I heard songs I couldn’t believe were coming from folks no one has heard of.  I realized there was a lot of talent out there.”

One particular writer he took a special interest in, and one who will be performing at the showcase, was Paulette Dixon. “She played me a few of her songs on our first mentoring session.”  Paulette was one of the writers who answered the original online ad.  “I gave her an ‘assignment’ not unlike one I was given by Warner/Chappell Music Publishing when I first visited LA.  The assignment was to write 10 songs and come back in two weeks,” a request that Scot referred to as “seemingly insane”, but Paulette did just that.  “When pushed, a writer writes,” Scot says.   Paulette came back with 10 new songs.   “One of them, I’ll Be Seeing You, knocked me out!”  It seemed Scot’s mentoring was working.

A musical relationship with Dixon developed further.  “I started thinking of places she could go with the song: publishing companies, etc.”  That’s when Paulette asked Scot a question that changed everything. “Paulette asked, ‘Why don’t you start your own publishing company?’ That’s how Songlife Artists was born,” says Scot.

Paulette Dixon is not the only act signed and represented by Scot. John Stanton, an old friend and one-time high school band-mate of Scot’s, and the brother duo, GoldenCarr, Jeff Golden and Tom Carr, ages 12 and 16 respectively, are part of the Songlife Company and too will be performing.

“John Stanton has developed into one of the strongest writers and singers I’ve heard in a long time.  GoldenCarr, who I met at Milkboy Bryn Mawr’s Open Mic Night, jumped onstage and did the Beatles’ Yer Blues note for note, word for word, and then an original, All Your Love Has Given Me.  They knocked me out of my chair.”

Scot is straightforward about the company’s goal.  “What I want to do is simply get these great artists and songs exposure.”  And Scot realizes that so much of what is success in the music business always comes back to the old Woody Allen adage: “Ninety percent is showing up.”

“It really is sad to think of how many talented people are out there that don’t realize it’s just a matter of going for it  that can get them and their songs recognized.  This has become a passion for me.”

Scot practices what he preaches.  “I felt the same way about Sharon Little two years ago.”  Sharon Little was a little known but extremely talented singer/songwriter from the West Chester area.  She teamed up with Scot and they went it for it: making demos, doing gigs and really putting themselves out there.

“Now Sharon is on tour with Robert Plant and Alison Krauss. The dynamic duo heard our demo that we made in my house in Ardmore and picked her to tour with them,” says Scot.

To Scot it’s always been a simple equation.  “It always comes down to the song, then getting it out there and pounding the pavement.”  It’s an equation that has served Scot well over the years.  And it’s this no nonsense attitude that Scot applies to his work with Songlife Artists.

“That’s what Songlife is about: honest songs and hard work.”

On July 26th, Scot and his recently signed Songlife artists will perform at Milkboy.  Scot will host the evening and no doubt bring some of his award winning material to the table.  Paulette Dixon, John Stanton, and GoldenCarr will provide sets of original music that inspired Scot in the first place.

Songlife Artist Inc. Launch and Showcase.  Saturday July 26th at Milkboy Coffee Ardmore, 2 East Lancaster Avenue, 8pm.  Tickets $10 presale, $12 at the door.  Call 610-645-5269 or www.milkboycoffee.com

Bios
Scot Sax  grew up in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania.  As a kid his parents, brought him to NY’s Greenwich Village regularly. That, along with his older brother’s massive record collection, started a passionate relationship with song-writing and performing.  In 1995 his band Wanderlust was signed to RCA. The band had a hit with Scot’s song I Walked.  They toured with COLLECTIVE SOUL and opened for THE WHO in 1996.
After signing a song-writing deal with Warner/Chappell in LA in 1998, Scot saw his songs on many artist’s albums and in movies like AMERICAN PIE for which he received a GOLD RECORD.
Currently on tour with Robert Plant and Alison Krauss (w/ Sharon Little), Scot  recently won much recognition for his co-written GRAMMY Winning Song Like We Never Loved At All  performed by FAITH HILL and TIM MCGRAW.

Paulette Dixon:  Since her childhood, Paulette has been writing songs about love, loss, God and life. Not realizing that songwriting could be more than responding to a moment of inspiration, she gave corporate life a try but she knew something was missing. When Paulette met Scot Sax, she found a friend and mentor who challenged her to write more, work hard, and consider it a job. With his encouragement, Paulette returned to writing full-time and in the process she found what was missing.

John Stanton: has been writing songs since back in the day when he and Scot played together in their first band in high school.  John is honored to be a part of the Songlife family. He owes so much of what he’s learned about writing from his old band mate.   He is also is a playwright and Co-Artistic Director of Madhouse Theater Company out of Philadelphia.

GoldenCarr: Jeff Golden, 12 and Tom Carr, 16, began performing together at family talent shows.  Last December, the brothers performed at an open mike at Bryn Mawr’s Milkboy and the combination of folksy blues combined with an indie sound got the attention of Scot Sax, who emceed the open mike that night. Scot and the brothers worked together to produce the boys’ album Come Have a Day. (Songlife Artists)
Tom Carr, a junior at Bonner High School, writes all of the songs. His songs depict at times a world-weary view of life and love that one might expect from an older songwriter. At other times, Tom’s vocals and lyrics inspire memories of adolescence as only one in the moment could.
Jeffrey Golden, a Drexel Hill Middle School student, has been drawn to the guitar since he was three years old.  Some years and a few guitars later, Jeff collaborates with Tom extensively.   Jeff names Stevie Ray Vaughn, Buddy Guy, BB King and Led Zeppelin as his musical inspirations.

Milkboy Coffee: is an all-ages venue.  They’re open early for coffee junkies and stay open late for shows and creative arts events.  Their mission is to be a creative community meeting place where people’s minds and bellies can be filled.  Milkboy Coffee is the venue that gives many local and national acts a stage to showcase their art to an appreciative audience. Milkboy is most heavily rooted in music.  They began twelve years ago as Milkboy Recording, which is still thriving only a block from the coffee shop.

www.milkboycoffee.com